Leigh-Anne Dixon, of Wideopen, who returned from her honeymoon to discover her wedding photos had been stolen

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A devastated bride is today pleading for the return of her stolen wedding pictures.

Leigh-Anne and Edward Dixon tied the knot surrounded by family and friends three weeks ago.

And after enjoying a honeymoon in Spain the newly-weds could not wait to get home and see the photographs from their perfect big day.

But within moments of touching down at Newcastle International Airport, Leigh-Anne received a text from her wedding photographer telling her all her wedding pictures had been taken in a burglary.

Thieves raided snapper Kirstie Mackin’s Whitley Bay home early last Friday morning stealing all her computer equipment, discs and memory cards along with the photographs stored on them.

And today, as police hunt the burglars, Leigh-Anne has begged whoever has her priceless pictures to find a way to return them.

The 30-year-old, from Wideopen, North Tyneside, said: “I’m just absolutely devastated. Those pictures are worthless to anyone else but they mean the world to me.”

Leigh-Anne and Eddie were married at the White Swan Inn in Dinnington on Saturday, July 19 and chose Kirstie, a photography student and friend of a friend, to capture their special day on camera.

“It was a perfect day,” said mum-of-one Leigh-Anne. “We had about 250 guests altogether. We had been planning it for about a year and everything went to plan.”

After their honeymoon the new Mr and Mrs Dixon were looking forward to banishing the post wedding blues by pouring over their wedding snaps when they got home.

“I was really excited about seeing the pictures,” said Leigh-Anne. “I was so looking forward to it. We were on a bit of a downer with the wedding and honeymoon being over and seeing the pictures was going to be like the last part of the wedding.”

But that morning burglars crept through an open window at Kirstie’s home on Linden Terrace as she slept. And in just minutes the crooks swiped valuables from her living room, including her three laptops and camera bag, in which memory cards on which the pictures were backed up were stored.

Kirstie was woken by the noise. But by the time she got downstairs the burglars had gone.

The 32-year-old’s shock at having her home broken into was quickly replaced by sadness and anger when she realised the Dixons’ pictures were gone.

She said: “It is a complete nightmare. I’m still in a complete state about it. I’m extremely cautious about backing-up, and wedding photos are the most special ones I always back-up up all my pictures on two different computers and they have stolen both of them. All my college work and family photos were also on there. It’s not the possessions I’m upset about though. It’s Leigh-Anne’s photos. It’s her memories.”

The wedding of Leigh-Anne and Eddie Dixon (Photo: Kirstie Mackin)

Since the burglary the Dixons’ family and friends have rallied round sending them their own snaps from the day, captured on phones and personal cameras. But there are many treasured moments from the couple’s special day that are missing.

“There were people taking pictures on the day and friends and family have rallied round and keep bring us pictures they have taken,” said Leigh-Anne. “But we don’t have all the group ones or all the build-up when I was getting ready with the girls. And Kirstie took pictures of me and my dad together in the car. It’s those special moments that I’ll never get back.

“Those memory cards have no monetary value but they have got my special day on. I just want someone to drop them off somewhere so I can get them back.”

Police are also appealing for help to find the burglars.

A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: “On Friday, August 1, police received a report that a burglary had taken place at Linden Terrace in Whitley Bay, it’s believed to have happened at around 5am.

“Two males both around 5ft 10ins tall of medium build, one wearing a grey hooded top with the hood up and grey bottoms, and the other wearing a purple and blue coloured hooded top with the hood pulled up, and matching bottoms, were seen leaving the area. Anyone with information is asked to contact police.”

And Kirstie added: “If anyone has seen or has the files and they just sent them back anonymously it would make everything so much better. All we care about is the photos.”